Bury St Edmunds: Man Jailed For Violent Robbery

13th January 2014, 15:03

A man's been jailed after he kicked, punched and threatened a man with a knife in Bury St Edmunds.

Kyle Haggerty, 21, from Anselm Avenue, Bury St Edmunds appeared before Ipswich Crown Court today, Monday 13 January, charged with a robbery relating to an incident in Bury St Edmunds on 20 July 2013 and pleaded guilty to the offence.

The court heard that between 2.30am and 3am on Saturday 20 July, Haggerty approached his victim, a man in his 20s, along a footpath off Mount Road in Bury St Edmunds.

The victim had spent the evening out in town with friends and was making his way home along the footpath. He was approached and passed by Haggerty who asked him the time, which the victim said he didn’t know. Once Haggerty was behind the man he proceeded to launch an attack upon him, punching and kicking him to the ground whilst also threatening that he had a knife and would stab him.

He also spat on him, hit him with a stick and stamped on his head whilst he was on the ground.

Haggerty stole cash from the victim’s wallet and an iPhone.

When another man walked passed, the victim managed to get up and run off seeking help at a nearby house in Fieldfare Close.

The victim attended West Suffolk Hospital where he was treated for a broken nose and significant swelling and bruising.

Police arrested Haggerty near to the area where the incident had taken place at 4.20am the same morning.

Haggerty was later charged with robbery.

At court today Haggerty was sentenced to five years imprisonment.

Speaking after the trial, Detective Inspector David Giles said: "Kyle Haggerty inflicted a particularly brutal and sustained attack on his victim which will undoubtedly effect the victim for a significant period of time.

"After the victim sought help nearby police attended the area, which included a dog handler and his dog and Haggerty was located and arrested. He was found to be in possession of some of the victim’s possessions and had blood on him.

"I hope the result from court today and Haggerty’s sentencing will give some form of closure to his victim and reassure local people that a violent and dangerous man is off the streets.

"We will not tolerate violent crimes of this nature and will do everything within our powers to bring those to justice.”